Playoff Putbacks: How Grizzlies can retake West finals

May 19, 2013
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The San Antonio Spurs lead the Memphis Grizzlies 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals. / Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

by Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports

by Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports

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The Memphis Grizzlies have not won Game 1 of any of their three playoff series in 2013, and the Western Conference finals was no different. The Grizzlies were blown out in the series opener by a San Antonio Spurs team that was sharper, tighter and just plain better than they were.

The Grizzlies played poorly as a team, but nobody was as conspicuously absent as Zach Randolph. The power forward, who made a major offensive and defensive impact in the Grizzlies' closing out of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, shot 1-for-8 from the field. Center Marc Gasol had a disappointing game as well, scoring 15 points on 16 shots and failing to protect the rim. The Grizzlies will need better from their starting frontcourt if they want to take this series.

Other than Quincy Pondexter, who led the team with 17 points off the bench and drilled five three-pointers, none of Memphis' players impressed offensively. Jerryd Bayless shot 3-for-7 from the field and was so forgettable that coach Lionel Hollins literally forgot his name. Mike Conley shot 5-for-12, and Tayshaun Prince went 2-for-5.

San Antonio's roster is full of outside shooting threats, and the Grizzlies' much-hyped perimeter defense will need to adjust. The Spurs as a team shot 14-for-29 from long range, and Memphis defenders routinely left Matt Bonner and Danny Green wide open. If they cannot take away some of those easy looks, they will need to at least answer them with some makes of their own.

The Grizzlies have been known to adjust and bounce back from early deficits in the playoffs, and this is largely the same team that beat the Spurs in the first round of the 2011 playoffs. However, for them to get it done, nearly everyone will have to play better at both ends of the floor than they did on Sunday.

T-Mac shut out: Since being signed by the Spurs near the end of the season, Tracy McGrady has assumed the role of human victory cigar. The former scoring champion and seven-time All-Star played nearly seven minutes on Sunday and was the only San Antonio player not to register a point.

Next up: The Western Conference Finals continue on Tuesday, with the Spurs hosting the Grizzlies for Game 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.